Applied Diversity

.more than just a topic.

Elisabeth L. ChanNorthern Virginia Community College

My Lens

• 4th generation Chinese-American from Memphis, Tennessee

• ESL in the US• EAP• Higher education

– 4 year universities (IEP)– 2 year community college (semester-

based)• My research: race, language, and

culture

Student Pondering

• “Why are Americans unfriendly?”– Saudi male

• “(A little boy) calls me China Man. I don’t like it, but I don’t know what I can say.”– Chinese male, 19 years old

Student Reflections

• “My customer yelled at me that I should learn English or go back to where I came from. Then my manager told me the customer is always right.”– Ethiopian female

• “I’m unlucky because I was born speaking Chinese and not English.”– Chinese female

Me PonderingHow do I

avoid imposing my

cultural views?

What is the extent of my

social responsibilitie

s?

Me Pondering

What makes it more than just another topic? Where does

the language instruction

play in?

Me Pondering

What does it look like in

the classroom? What will

have the greatest impact?

Me Pondering

Is it really

worth it?

Imposing?

• Rapport

• To be or not to be neutral

• Cross-cultural conflict resolution– http://www.mediate.com/articles/ford5.cfm

• Education, children, customs, beliefs – http://www.ehow.com/info_8773113_not-impose

-customs-beliefs-others.html

Social Responsibility

• Educator• Teacher• Advisor• Counselor• Cheerleader• Referee• Confidant

• English– Formal– Informal

• Culture– Cultural norms and

mores– Academic culture &

expectations

“Tourist” Multiculturalism

• Stages– Acknowledge differences– Learn about differences– Respect differences– Celebrate differences– Recognize similarities

More than a topic

• Hometown• Pets• Money• School• Jobs• Travel• Music• Hobbies

• Family/Friends• Work • Stories/Novels• Poetry• Movies• Sports• Food• Clothes

Class Time

• Beginner– “Cultural Myth vs. Truth”– Simple present; true/false

• Intermediate– “Poetry: Maya Angelou” (tolerance.org)– Present Perfect, Passive; analysis

• Advanced– “Culture, Not a Costume” (Ohio Univ.)– Conditionals & Noun Clauses; debate

So What?

• Impact– Subtle (passive osmosis)– Evident

• need a tangible outcome• Task-based (TBLT)

Worth it?

Thank you!

Elisabeth L. Chanelisabethlchan@gmail.com;

echan@nvcc.edu

Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria campus

TESOL Diversity & Inclusion Committee

TESOL Social Responsibility IS Chair-Elect

http://www.slideshare.net/ElisabethChan